Flowers and Acorns, Pine Needles and Trees

We stop and smell the flowers a lot.
What should be a 10 minute walk becomes a 15-20 minute one; simply because we took the time to stop and smell some flowers.
Or watch and inchworm,
Collect pine needles,
Grab a rock for our rock collection,
Whatever the reason we tend to enjoy the life that is right in front of us.

I mean don't get me wrong, I rush around some days, many days??-- but mostly I try my best to enjoy what's on my current plate.

Our flower smelling, and picking, makes us late often
But allows for conversations to be had, lessons to be learned and memories to be made and that's what really matters.

My BFF from hs has two little sisters, one of them told me yesterday in regards to the third sisters suicide 17 years ago that she has chosen to "keep on living. Some people loose someone very close to them" she said, "and they hold on so much that they don't live. I chose to live life." I love that!! She is choosing to: Live. Right. Now.

What happens has happened and what is right here right now is what matters.

While I often wonder if my flower picking time schedule, which often makes us late, I wonder if that in it's flaw is disrespectful to the people and things I arrive late at?
Idk
But what I do know is that flowers make pretty centerpieces and a bowl of acorns makes my heart smile. So we'll continue to stop and smell the flowers.

I'd encourage you to do the same and share it in a comment here or on FB.

Oh and one last tip, when slowing down and smelling the flowers, take a breath, breathe it in. Actually smell the flower- then in the wise words of Aubry May "it smells good"-- God is good.

Taste and see The Lord is good.

Happy days,

Breakdowns Are Adventures You'd Have Missed

I have spent many an hour sitting on the side of a highway, broke down somewhere on the eastern seaboard.

It was 2004 and our then family of four had just crossed the state line; our Virginia-Georgia vacation was coming to a close when we found ourselves pushing the little white Kia Rio off the exit ramp. We were towed back to GA and settled into a hotel with a jacuzzi and across the street from a dollar theatre! We were in Heaven.

2010 found us sitting under an overpass waiting for the Cadillac to cool down. That trip allowed for an urban photo shot, pool swimming, Waffle House eating and an impromptu trip to Savannah, GA.

Now I lay here in a hotel somewhere 300 miles from my hometown in NH. The engine in my car is junk. I should be somewhere well south of the Mason-Dixon Line headed to my home in FL. Yet here I am in PA waiting on a tow back to where I just left.

Is this fun? No. But yes, of course it's fun. What other outlook can I have.

I've learned lots sitting on the side of the road. It slows me down. Makes me think.

When life happens outside our control then joy is the only option. While we may desire for things to go different it is in accepting how they ARE that makes the moment or breaks it.

Sure my day and week is not at all how I want it to be going but it is how God sees it going. Since God knows best I have to move on; and moving on with a smile, a seance of adventure and a good attitude sure beats the heck out of the alternative.

So whether sitting on the side of I-84 in PA or wherever life has that is broken down, take heart, look to The One who knows the why and the how; trust it to Him and look up,
Look around,
There is a whole world out there that had the breakdown not happened you'd never have seen.

For me. I got to experience some of the most amazing people. I had the opportunity to be blessed with a ride, crayons, water for the dog and some great stories of an old man!!

Had I not broke down I would not have had the moments to be blessed by strangers and to maybe have blessed them, we did after all help in the mechanic shop with organizing and clean-up!!

Had we not broke down we'd have missed  a "top 10" playground and this town has the best climbing rocks!!

So love where you are!

Be loving, be peace;
Until next time,

LiFe uPDaTe

I've really been wanting to blog more
just haven't, but maybe I will.

Life is getting ready to transition and as with most transitions comes change.
Justin is graduating from high school in June then he will move out a few days later and shortly after that Steve and I travel to Honduras;
while...
back home in sunny Florida my best friend of 10 years will be moving to VA. sniff, sniff

But we press on...
for with each new day
and each new adventure
it holds for us something new,
something fabulous,
something good.    And God is good and all about making new.


ADoPTiNG AuBRY FRONT:
We are halfway to terminating Aubry's bio-parents rights. May 9th we will hear the case against the other half and then, Lord willing adoption by summer's end!!

It's not that we don't want her bio-parents to be part of her life it's more a matter of getting the state of Florida off our back.
We currently have workers in our house twice a month as well as court 4-6 times a year, plus paperwork.
So by terminating parental rights we get more time.

What an amazing journey this has been,
adopting has been on my heart for years and I never imagined actually doing it.
And certainly not in this way.
God is good.

There is such a need for adoption in our state foster care systems, our hearts are open to a new demographic; adoption is magical.

PaLLeT SiGNS:
I have currently set up a small workspace to assemble, sand and paint my pallet signs.
Big issue here is doing with with a 2-year-old by my side.
So currently my pallet sign production is at a slow and steady pace with orders keeping me busy the next 6 weeks.

ReMODeL uPDaTe
Plastic ET wall separating the kitchen, master bedroom and bath from the rest of the house is down.
My house seems huge.
Spanos Customs installed a utility sink and dishwasher in the kitchen while the counters and cabinets are built.
I've never been so happy.

Happy day!!

Upcoming Events

Spring break is upon us.
Not having to take Justin to school really changes what our morning looks like.
Steve gets up with Aubry and has been letting me sleep in beyond that all else is great cause sleeping in is reason to celebrate!!

I do have some fun stuff to share,
First of all I will be sharing at the upcoming Bagels and Blessings at Edgewater Alliance Church on Sat, April 12th 9-11am. So locals I'd love to see you there; I will be sharing on how you can have joy in your life, no matter the situation.

Secondly I will be making a push to sell pallet signs soon.
Steve and I are traveling to Honduras this summer and to pay the $1100 needed for each of us I am selling my pallet signs on a more serious, discounted level
AND
I will be making and selling, creatively packaged yummy, direct from old Maine recipe--- Needhams!!!

So pay attention to this blog, Facebook and IG.
You'll want a needham I promise.

Of course other news in our lives consist of  Justin's graduation and his moving out-- but that's another post.


Happy Day!!!